Easily test if one number can be evenly divided by another

"Divisible By" means "when you divide one number by another the result is a whole
number "

Examples:
14 is divisible by 7, because 14 7 = 2 exactly
15 is not divisible by 7, because 15 7 = 2

1
7

(the result is not a whole

number)
0 is divisible by 7, because 0 7 = 0 exactly (0 is a whole number)

"Divisible by" and "can be evenly divided by" mean the same thing

These rules let you test if one number is divisible by another, without having to do too
much calculation!

Example: is 723 divisible by 3?

We could try dividing 723 by 3
Or use the "3" rule: 7+2+3=12, and 12 3 = 4 exactly Yes

Note: 0 (zero) is a "yes" result to any of these tests.

The last digit is even (0,2,4,6,8)

128 Yes
129 No

The sum of the digits is divisible by 3

381 (3+8+1=12, and 123 = 4) Yes

1

217 (2+1+7=10, and 103 = 3 /3) No

This rule can be repeated when needed:

99996 (9+9+9+9+6 = 42, then 4+2=6) Yes

The last 2 digits are divisible by 4

1312 is (124=3) Yes

3

7019 is not (194=4 /4) No

A quick check (useful for small numbers) is to halve the number twice and the
result is still a whole number.

12/2 = 6, 6/2 = 3, 3 is a whole number. Yes

30/2 = 15, 15/2 = 7.5 which is not a whole number. No

The last digit is 0 or 5

175 Yes
809 No

The number is divisible by both 2 and 3 (it passes both the 2 rule and
3 rule above)

114 (it is even, and 1+1+4=6 and 63 = 2) Yes

2

308 (it is even, but 3+0+8=11 and 113 = 3 /3) No

Double the last digit and subtract it from a number made by the
other digits. The result must be divisible by 7. (We can apply this rule
to that answer again)

672 (Double 2 is 4, 67-4=63, and 637=9) Yes

105 (Double 5 is 10, 10-10=0, and 0 is divisible by 7) Yes
3

905 (Double 5 is 10, 90-10=80, and 807=11 /7) No

The last three digits are divisible by 8

109816 (8168=102) Yes

3

216302 (3028=37 /4) No

A quick check is to halve three times and the result is still a whole number:

816/2 = 408, 408/2 = 204, 204/2 = 102 Yes

302/2 = 151, 151/2 = 75.5 No

The sum of the digits is divisible by 9

(Note: This rule can be repeated when needed)

1629 (1+6+2+9=18, and again, 1+8=9) Yes

2013 (2+0+1+3=6) No

The number ends in 0

220 Yes
221 No

Add and subtract digits in an alternating pattern (add digit,

subtract next digit, add next digit, etc). Then the answer must
be divisible by 11.

1364 (+13+64 = 0) Yes

913 (+91+3 = 11) Yes
3729 (+37+29 = 11) Yes
987 (+98+7 = 8) No

The number is divisible by both 3 and 4 (it passes both the 3

rule and 4 rule above)

648
(By 3? 6+4+8=18 and 183=6 Yes)
(By 4? 484=12 Yes)
Both pass, so Yes
524
2

(By 3? 5+2+4=11, 113= 3 /3 No)

(Don't need to check by 4) No

There are lots more! Not only are there divisibility tests for larger numbers, but there
are more tests for the numbers we have shown.

Factors are the numbers you multiply to get another number:

This can be useful, because:

When a number is divisible by another number ...

... then it is also divisible by each of the factors of that number.

Example: If a number is divisible by 6, it is also divisible by 2 and 3

Example: If a number is divisible by 12, it is also divisible by 2, 3, 4 and 6

Subtract the last digit from a number made by the other digits.
If that number is divisible by 11 then the original number is, too.
Can repeat this if needed,

Example: 286
28 6 is 22, which is divisible by 11, so 286 is divisible by 11

Example: 14641
1464 1 is 1463
146 3 is 143
14 3 is 11, which is divisible by 11, so 14641 is divisible by 11

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